Manchester United aren't playing 'sparkling football' but David de Gea remains a diamond

The Spanish goalkeeper proved once more why he's so highly-coveted with another colossal display for the Red Devils at Stamford Bridge 

hankful: Where would United be had De Gea joined Real Madrid?

Whatever he says about Manchester United's 'sparkling football', one truth is self-evident for Louis Van Gaal.
Had David de Gea left for Real Madrid on August deadline day, United would be down among the dead men with Chelsea this season.

United have been, on the whole, pretty good since reaching their nadir at Stoke on Boxing Day. And it took an injury-time equaliser from Diego Costa to deny them a significant victory here.

They've been pretty good, but they're no Leicester City.

And they've not been good enough to prevent ever louder talk of a move for Jose Mourinho. Here at the Special One's former fortress, the shadow of his former protege loomed larger over Van Gaal.

He was customarily prickly when asked about United holding talks with Mourinho's people. But the Dutchman is living in denial.

United are six points adrift of the Champions League places, with a vastly inferior goal difference. All evidence suggests they are not going to make it.

Jesse Lingard had swivelled and fired United into a deserved lead on the hour - but had it not been for three world-class second-half saves from De Gea after that, Chelsea would have nicked all three points.

"He's big, he's brave, he's Spanish Dave, he makes great saves, he never shaves," sing the United faithful of their keeper.
And De Gea is, as the razor commercial would have it, the best a manager can get.

For the final hour, this was an enthralling contest between two teams fallen on hard times. Yet ultimately, a point was of little use to either. Chelsea remain unbeaten under Guus Hiddink but still in the bottom half of the table after a sixth draw in eight League games.

It was a match which pitted an unwanted legend and against an unwanted 'genius'. At least, John Terry claims Chelsea no longer want him, while Blues maintain that they might still want him.

Meanwhile, everyone knows United no longer want Van Gaal, except Van Gaal himself, who is steadfast in his belief in his own enduring genius.

So Mourinho, loved but ultimately unwanted at Chelsea, is wanted but ultimately unloved at United.
Such is life in the Premier League as once-mighty clubs struggle to cope with life in Leicester's slipstream.

Van Gaal's men dominated possession early on and Anthony Martial cut in from the left to bend a shot which forced an excellent clawing stop from Thibaut Courtois.

Chelsea roused themselves, though, with Willian in menacing mood. Nemanja Matic's header was met with a flying stop from De Gea, then Diego Costa dragged one wide.

Oscar blazed over from close range, then failed to connect to a low cross from Willian who had filleted Cameron Borthwick-Jackson.

And in first-half injury-time, Chelsea were screaming for a penalty when Terry's shot struck the elbow of Daley Blind - although the Dutchman did look to be trying to move his arm out of the way.

But United started the second half at express speed - Rooney's low drive was thwarted by Courtois, Martial cut in and shot wide and a Lingard curler was pushed away by the athletic Chelsea keeper.

Kurt Zouma had to be carried off on a stretcher after falling awkwardly and injuring his knee. And within minutes, United crafted a goal which was made in England, Borthwick-Jackson crossed from the left and Rooney touched on for Lingard to turn Cesar Azpilicueta and crash into the corner of the net.

Finish: Lingard hands United the lead

But after that, it was the De Gea show - his best save an extraordinary reflex effort from Branislav Ivanovic's volley. Then another fine effort to deny Cesc Fabregas.

Just after fourth official Craig Pawson had signalled six minutes of injury-time, Fabregas slipped in a pass, Blind slipped over and Costa twisted past Borthwick-Jackson to net from a tight angle.

There was still time for De Gea to make another instinctive save when Costa drilled one on target.

Real Madrid will be cursing the red-tape tangle which cost them the keeper's signature. Van Gaal wouldn't have lasted this long without him.